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Smartphones, Tablets Preferred Over Other Tech, Survey Finds

When it comes to students' favorite technological devices, smartphones and tablets make the top of their list.

According to a recent report from The NPD Group, children ages four to 14 "are using smartphones and tablets more than all other electronic devices." The report, the news release said, showed that "the number of children in that age group who use smartphones has risen sharply."

"Seventy-one percent of households with a child age 4-14 reported owning a smartphone in 2014, up from 55 percent in 2012," said the release. "Furthermore, incidence of ownership of media tablets doubled between 2012 and 2014, growing from 21 percent to 43 percent, respectively. Among those with kids in the household, 35 percent said that their child uses a smartphone, up from 21 percent in 2012. For media tablets, the figure was 31 percent, up from thirteen percent in 2012."

The NPD Group surveyed 3,028 individuals age 22 or older with a child between the ages of 4 and 14, the release said. Respondents, it said, "were asked to bring their child to the computer to help them complete the survey."

When it comes to the main reason for purchasing a consumer electronic device, the biggest factor is pricing, the release said. The report also found that "sales support/services as a reason for purchase becomes more meaningful to consumers who purchased from electronic/specialty retailers. In most instances, regardless of the device, pricing, technology, and features dominate the decision making."

“Technology devices are as much staples for American families as traditional toys, perhaps more so considering their ability to engage with almost any member of the family,” said Juli Lennett, president of the Toys division at The NPD Group. “Marketing smartphones and tablets for family use, rather than the traditional primary user, and offering pricing and payment options to meet the needs of families, will engage this audience even further.”